Geranium plant named Fisbal

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named Fisbal, particularly characterized by the combined features of white semi-double flowers, medium to dark green leaves with good chlorophyll stability, resulting in better transporting ability, less susceptibility to rain damage, fast rooting, compact habit, excellent branching, and free standing flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name Fisbal.

Fisbal is a product of a planned breeding program which has theobjective of creating new geranium cultivars with white semi-doubleflowers, medium to dark green leaves, better transportation ability,fast rooting, better temperature tolerance, and moderate nutrient orfeeding requirements.

Fisbal was originated from a hybridization made by the inventor in acontrolled breeding program in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany,in 1982.

The female parent was Perlpenei, a cultivar having white semi-doubleflowers with light green foliage (quite often with chlorosis). The maleparent of Fisbal was the cultivar Leif Danzig, having white singleflowers, good zonation, very tall growing habit and bad chlorophyllquality.

Fisbal was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Ingeborg Schumann in May 1983 in acontrolled environment in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Fisbal was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February1984 in a controlled environment in Hillscheid, Federal Republic ofGermany by, or under the supervision of, Ingeborg Schumann.

Horticultural examination of selected units initiated in Spring 1984 andcontinuing thereafter has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Fisbal are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Fisbal has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany, under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Fisbal, which, in combination, distinguishthis Geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. White semi-double flowers.

2. Medium to dark green leaves.

3. Fast rooting.

4. Good temperature tolerance.

5. Good branching.

6. Flowers free standing above the leaves.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present invention, themost similar in comparison to Fisbal is the female parent, Perlpenei. Incomparison to Perlpenei, Fisbal has a much darker leaf color (137A-B vs.137C-D), longer flower stem (15.9 cm vs. 10.5 cm), better resistance torain, better transportation ability, faster rooting, better tolerance tosalt, better branching, and reduced feeding or fertilization needs.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical flower andfoliage characteristics of Fisbal, with the colors being as true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). The color values weredetermined between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon indoors on May 6, 1987under 30,000 Lux light intensity at Hillscheid, Federal Republic ofGermany.

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium zonale l'Hert. cv Fisbal.

Commercial.--Zonal geranium.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Umbel:

Average diameter.--Indoor, 10.3 cm; outdoor 9.3 cm.

Average depth.--Indoor, 5.4 cm; outdoor, 5.1 cm.

Peduncle length.--Indoor, 15.9 cm; outdoor, 13.4. cm.

Pedical length.--Indoor, 2.8 cm; outdoor, 3.0 cm.

B. Corolla:

Average diameter.--Indoor, 4.3 cm; outdoor, 4.1 cm.

Form.--Semi-double.

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper and lower surfaces).--R.H.S. 155D; wilting flowers turnslightly pink.

C. Bud:

Shape.--Round.

Color.--Light green.

Sepals and pedicel.--light green without anthocyan.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--5 fertile stamens.

Gynoecium.--5 lobed stigma.

E. Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Federal Republic ofGermany in 1988, 50% of plants with at least 1 flower opened 11 weeksafter planting of unrooted cuttings in week 6.

F. Outdoor flower production: The flower count in 1988 in Hillscheid,Federal Republic of Germany indicated between 50 and 60 flowers perplant for June through October observation period.

G. Durability: Medium.

PLANT

A. Foliage:

Form.--Kidney shaped.

Margin.--Bicrenate.

Color.--Medium to dark green.

Zonation.--Weak, darker green.

Tolerance to botrytis.--Good.

B. General appearance and form:

Internode length.--Short.

Branching pattern.--4.7 branches per plant after 13 weeks of growingtime from unrooted cuttings.

Height.--24 cm.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named Fisbal, as illustrated and described. 